A MOTORCYCLIST has pleaded guilty to causing the death of a 14-year-old Great Sutton schoolboy by dangerous driving.

But at Chester Crown Court on Friday, Nicholas Edward Sheppard, 28, formerly of Black Lion Lane, Little Sutton, was told he will not be sentenced until January so an operation on the left arm he injured in the July crash can go ahead.

Manchester City Academy footballer Daniel Foulkes, of Hereford Avenue, died after being struck by Sheppard's Kawasaki Ninja on the A41 at 4.55pm on Thursday July 12.

Daniel, a pupil of Ellesmere Port Catholic High School, was rushed to the Countess of Chester Hospital before being transferred to Manchester Children's Hospital where he died from his injuries.

Sheppard and his 31-year-old female pillion passenger were also treated at the Countess for serious arm and leg injuries.

Last Friday, before a packed court, Sheppard admitted his guilt, although his barrister Neil Felwitt claimed he had no recollection of the events leading up to the crash.

Mr Felwitt told the court that thanks to the co-operation of the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), which made all material available, the defence was able to obtain reports on Sheppard and confirm his guilty plea.

He said: 'We wrote to the CPS so the family could be informed in advance that there would be no sentencing today. There are three reports we want ­- a pre-sentence report, a psychological assessment, as he is seeing a psychologist, and a medical report.'

Prosecutor Meirion Lewis-Jones said the plea was acceptable to the prosecution and he could not object to an adjournment until after the operation.

Sheppard was granted bail to reside at an address in Mold, North Wales and the judge imposed an interim driving ban until his January 10 appearance.